Tag printing machine



Jan. 17, 1961 A. A. KATz TAG PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 5, v1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 17, 1961 A. A. KATz 2,968,237

TAG PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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...spgm WNW United States Patent TAG PRINTING MACHINE Abe A. Katz, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Automatic Tag Machines, Inc., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Apr. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 650,928

Claims. (Cl. 101-66) This invention relates to price tags or tickets for use on merchandise such as jewelry, Shoes, mens clothing, dresses, rugs, and the like and also staple tags such as used on millinery, small rugs, bath mats and similar articles, and in particular a tag printing machine having a plurality of code printing rings in combination with a price printing wheel in which tags of ditferent colors are readily selected and printed and in which tickets or tags are withdrawn from supply chutes by a vacuum cup and fed to a printing position by a carrier.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a tag printing machine in which numerals, letters, and other characters representing codes and also numerals and other characters representing a price are actuated by buttons and knobs.

The code printing rings are shown in my prior Patent No. 2,689,520 and the machine of this application includes operating instrumentalities for setting the code printing rings and price printing wheels and also means for positioning tickets or tags in relation to the rings and wheels whereby the tickets or tags are printed by type of the rings and wheels.

Various types of tag printing machines have been used; however, because of numerous codes and prices it has been found difcult to successfully print complete tickets or tags in a single operation.

With this thought in mind this'invention contemplates a motor driven machine having clutches, gears, and other transmission elements whereby tags of a selected color are fed by a vacuum cup and a carrier from storage chutes to a printing position over code rings and price wheels whereby a reciprocating platen moves the tags against type of the rings and wheels so that a plurality of codes and prices may be readily printed on the tags.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a tag printing machine wherein an indefinite number of codes may be selected for printing on tags and also wherein the tags may be printed with different prices wherein tags of different colors are printed on the same machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tag printing machine having a plurality of code carrying rings formed to be positioned by pawls and racks whereby different codes may be selected by pressing buttons at one side of the machine.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tag printing machine in which the machine is provided with a turntable having a plurality of chutes for tags of different colors in which a tag of a selected color is readily removed from a storage chute on the turntable and carried to a printing position by vacuum means and a carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tag printing machine in which code numeral carrying rings are advanced and returned by a pawl and rack combination whereby code indicating characters are readily adjusted to printing positions.

A Still further object of the invention is to provide Patented Jan. 17, 1961 IQC an improved tag printing machine which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a tag printing machine incorporated in a relatively small housing with a plurality of concentric rings having code indicating characters thereon and having gear racks in lower edges rotatably mount ed below a cover of the housing, a turntable having a plurality of tag carrying storage chutes thereon rotatably mounted on the housing, a vacuum cup mounted to convey a tag from one of the chutes of the turntable, a carrier for receiving a tag from the vacuum cup and conveying the tag to a printing position on the housing, price carrying wheels also mounted on the housing and positioned to be engaged by the tags in the printing operation, a cam actuated vertically movable platen mounted in the housing and positioned to urge tags into engagement with printing type of the rings and price wheels, a bellows in the housing for supplying vacuum to the vacuum cup as required, a motor in the housing for operating the parts, and means operatively connecting the motor to the individual elements of the machine as desired.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved tag printing machine with parts of a tag carrying turntable broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan through the machine showing the relative positions of the operating instrumentalites thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the machine taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing, in particular, the vertically movable platen for urging tags against printing elements, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on line 5 5 of Fig.l 3 showing a retaining spring for preventing operation of the latch when the power is relieved, the section being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the cam and operating means for advancing the ticket one step at a time.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through 'the machine, with the parts shown on an enlarged scale showing the card supply turntable, vacuum cup, vacuum supplying bellows and a solenoid for operating the parts.

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7 showing a cam roller mounting with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the machine showing the motor, ring actuating pawl and associated elements and with part of the housing broken away.

Figure l0 is a section taken on line 10 10 of Fig. 9 showing the ring actuating linger adjusting elements.

Figure 11 is a section taken on line 11 11 of Fig. 2 showing the ring actuating pawl with parts broken away.

Figure l2 is a section taken on line 12 12 of Fig. 2 showing the reversing gears for changing the movement of the pawl, shown in Fig. l1.

Figure 13 s a section taken on line 13 13 of Fig. 2 showing the clutch yoke for actuating the gears shown in Fig. l2.

Figure 13a is a sectional view taken through the clutch mechanism shown in Figure 13.

Figure 14 is a section taken on line 14 14 of Fig. 13 showing the pivotal mounting of the yoke for actuating the clutch element of the reversing gears.

Figure l5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the cam and operating means for the vacuum bellows.

Figure 16 is a section through the lower portion of the housing with parts broken away showing the ratchet pawl setting button.

i Figure 17 is a plan view showing a portion of the code printing rings, with parts broken away and parts omitted.

Figure 17a is a plan view of one of the printing rings showing the numbers which are arranged on opposite sides of the rings.

Figure 18 is a view looking upwardly toward the lower edge of one of the code printing rings.

Figure 19 is a section taken on line 19-19 of Fig. 2 showing the vacuum cup actuating cam.

Figure 20 is a section through the housing with parts broken away showing a lever for actuating one of the yprice printing wheels.

Figure 2l is a sectional plan, similar to that shown in Fig. l, with parts broken away illustrating a modishowing the mounting of the ticket storage chute carrier. i

Figure 23 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine` with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 24 is a sectional view taken on the line 24-24 of Figure 23.

Figure 25 is a sectional view taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a sectional view illustrating the price wheel mechanism.

Figure 27 is an enlarged view of the ratchet mechanism.

Figure 28 is a sectional view taken through the price wheel mechanism.

Figure 29 is a sectional view taken on the line 29-29 of Figure 16.

Figure 30 is a view illustrating the cam mechanism for operating the ticket carriage and the vacuum mechanism.

Figure 3l is a view illustrating the clutch mechanism for operating certain of the cams.

Figure 32 is a diagrammatic view showing the carbon ribbon operating reels.

Figure 33 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved tag printing machine of this invention includes a plurality of code rings 10. similar to the rings 18 of mv prior patent, a platform 11 upon which the rings are positioned, a plurality of price printing wheels 12, mounted on a shaft 13 and actuated by buttons 14 through flexible cables and ratchet wheels 16 on a shaft 17, a paten 18 suspended by a bar 19 between posts 20 and 21, the bar, platen and posts being actuated by cams 22 and 23 on the ends of a shaft 24, a vacuum cup 25 mounted on the upper end of a stem 26, a cam 27 for actuating the vacuum cup 25, a motor 2S for driving the countershaft 29 through a belt 30 that is trained over a pulley 31 on a motor shaft 32 and also over a pulley 33 of the countershaft 29, and a turntable 34 rotatably mounted by a shaft 35 on the machine and having spaced vertically positioned ticket storage chutes 36 mounted thereon.

The platform 11, as shown in Figures 3 and 9, is positioned in the upper end of a cabinet having a base 37 with a continuous flange 3S, a front wall 42, a rear wall 41, and end walls 39 and 46. The cabinet is also provided with a longitudinally disposed partition 43 and the shaft 24 is rotatably mounted, at one end in a bearing 44 in the bracket 39' and, at the opposite end in a bearing 45, in the partition 43 as shown in Figure 3.

The lower edges of the rings 10 are provided with 'spaced notches 46, as shown in Fig. 9 and a pawl 47 slidably mounted in a socket 43 and urged upwardly by a spring 49 as shown in Figure l1 vi's mounted to engage the notches for advancing and returning the rings.

The pawl 47 is mounted on a carriage including side plates 50 and 51 and the carriage is mounted to travel on a lower horizontally disposed guide rod 52 and an upper inclined guide rod 53, as shown in Figures 10 and l1. The socket 48 is positioned in an intermediate plate 54 positioned between the plates 50 and 51, as shown in Figure 11, and the plate 54 is provided with an opening 5S through which the inclined guide rods 53 extend, as shown in Fig. 3. The carriage is moved longitudinally of the guide rods wherein the pawl 47 at the upper end travels across the rings 10 so that any one of the rings may be selected.

The carriage, including the plates 50 and 51 is actuated by a knob 56 secured to the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 57 with a set screw 58, as shown in Figure 9 and the shaft 57, which is rotatably mounted in bearings 59 and 6l) is provided with bevel gears `61 and 62 that are positioned to mesh with gears 63 and 64 on horizontally disposed shafts 65 and 66, the ends of which, opposite to the ends on which the bevel gears are positioned being provided with pinions `67 and 68 that are positioned to mesh with racks 69 and 70, as shown in Figure ll.

By turning the knob 56 the pawl 47 is moved across the rings 10, as shown in Figure l0 thereby making it possible to engage the pawl with notches of any ring desired. The carriage is stopped in registering relation with the rings by a spring actuated latch 71 that is positioned to coact with teeth 72 in a bar 73 extended from a plate 74, as shown in Figure 9 in which one of the ends of the shafts 65 and 66 are rotatably mounted. The opposite ends of the shafts are rotatably mounted in bearings in a plate 75 and the bearings 59 and 69 extend from the opposite side or outer surface of the plate 75, as shown in Figure 9. The latch 71 iS slidably mounted in a recess 76 in a block 77 on the carriage and the latch is retained in position with a cover plate 78 that is secured in position by screws 79, as shown in Figure l0. The bar 73, in which the teeth 72 are positioned is mounted in a recess 80 in the plate 74 and the bar is secured to the piate by screws 81.

The lower end of the carriage is slidably mounted on spaced parallel rods 82 and 83, as shown in Figure l1 which extend through a base 84 and the base 84 is provided with vertically disposed standards S5 and 86, as shown in Figures 3 and 9 in which the rods 52 and 53 are mounted, as Shown in Fig. 3. The rod 53 is secured in position by a pin 37, also as shown in Figure 3 and the rod 52 is secured in position with a pin 88.

The pawl 47 is actuated with an up and over movement, as shown in Figure 9, so that the pawl moves upwardly into one of the notches 46 and across, the distance of one notch, whereby a ring is advanced or returned and the pawl is set to the advancing or returning movement by clutches 103 and 104, Figure 2, on a square shaft 90. A cam 91, mounted on the shaft engages flat surfaces 92, 93, 94, and in an enlarged lower end 96 of the plate 54 in which the socket 48 that provides mounting means for the pawl 47, is positioned. As illustrated in Fig. 1l the cam moves the pawl upward'y. The inclined rod 53 extends through an elongated slot 97 in the plate 54, as shown in Figure 3, and the cam is provided with hubs 98 and 99 by which the cam is rotatably mounted in the plates 50 and 51. T-he pawl 47 extends upwardly from the carriage including the side plates 50 and 51 and the carriage, which is slidably mounted on the rods 52 and 53 is actuated by the knob 56 through the beveled gears 60 and 61 and the pinions 67 and 68 which mesh with the racks 69 and 70 on the carriage, whereby the pawl 47 is actuated to slide on the guide rods 52 and 53 until the pawl is in registering reation with one of the rings 10.

The square or cam shaft 90 is provided with a reduced round end 100 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 101 of the plate 85. Beveled gears 103 and 104 are mounted on the shaft 100, upon which beveled gears 103 and 104 are mounted and, as shown in Fig. 2, the gears are positioned in meshing relation with the pinion 89. The square section of the shaft 90 is positioned in a hub S of a clutch 106 as shown in Figure 3, and the hub is rotatably mounted in a bearing 107 in the plate 86. The clutch is actuated by a shift lever 108 which is controlled by a button 189 on a lever 110 that is connected by a rod 111 to an arm 112 that engages the lever 108, as shown in Figure 2. The lever 110 is pivotally mounted on a bearing 113 that is secured to the base 37 with screws 114. With the clutch 106 in engagement the gear 103 operating through the member 105 rotates the shaft 90 in one direction and with a similar clutch 115, positioned to be coupled to the gear 104, as shown in Figure 3, the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, the hub member 116 of the clutch 115 being secured to the round section 102 of the shaft 90 by a pin 117.

An arm 118 of the clutch 115, similar to the arm 108 of the clutch 106 is positioned to coact with an element v119 of a spring pressed yoke 120, as shown in Figure 13, the arms of which are pivotally connected by pins 121 and 122 to flanges of the clutch element 115 whereby the gear is coupled to the round section 102 of the shaft 9i) with the pin 117 extending through the hub 1,16 and end of the section 102.

The arm 118 is pivotally connected to a lever 123 with a pin 124, as shown in Figure 13 and the lever, which is pivotally connected to a rod 125 by a pin 126 in a clevis 127. The rod 111 is similar to the rod 125 and a clevis on the end of the rod is connected to the arm 112 by similar means. The element 119 is provided with a key 131 that extends into a slot 132 in the gear, see Figure 13a, whereby the element 119 rotates with the gear. The extended end of the rod 125 is connected by a clevis 133 to a lever 134 on the end of which a button 135 is posi tioned.

The pinion 89, that meshes with the gears 103 and 104, as shown in Figure 2 is mounted on the square shaft 136, as shown in Fig. 12 with a pin 137 extended through a hub 138 of the pinion 89 and also through a pin 139 extended from the end of the shaft 136. The shaft 136 is slidably mounted in a square opening 140 of a hub 141 of a pinion 142 and the hub 141 is rotatably mounted in a partition 143. The pinion 142 meshes with a pinion 144 on the shaft 29 which is rotated by the motor through the belt 30, as shown in Figure 9.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described the pawl 47 is set to correspond with one of the rings 10 by the knob 56, as shown in Figure 9 and with the shaft 29 and pinion 89 operating continuously the clutches 106 and 115 are readily actuated by the buttons 109 and 135 to actuate the pawl with a forward or return movement whereby code indicia on the rings 10 is readily set as desired. With the pawl 47 set to correspond with a desired ring the pawl is reciprocated by the buttons 109 and 135 whereby the rings are advanced or reversed until the desired indicia are displayed through the openings of the housing cover.

The price indicating wheels 12 are also set by the knobs 14, as shown in Figure 3 and 20 and flexible cables whereby any price desired may be set to be printed with the code numerals on a ticket.

The buttons 14 are positioned on the outer ends of levers 145 which are pivotally mounted by pins 146 in bearings 147 that are secured in the base 37 with screws 148, as shown in Figure 20. The flexible cables 15, which extend through sheafs 149 are secured in clamps 150 with set screws 151 and the clamps are pivotally mounted on the levers 145 with pins 152.

As an illustration, the machine shown and described includes five of the ratchet wheels 16, as shown in Figure 3, which are actuated by the buttons 14 through the cables 15. The indicating wheels 404 are operated through gears mounted on shafts 13 and 17, and gearsL 8 mounted on shaftsand sleeves. y

By this means dollars and cents may readily be printed on ends of the tickets, and the price is readily set by the knobs 14.

Supplies of tickets of different colors are provided in the chutes 36 of the color wheel or turntable 34, as shown in Figure 3, or in chutes 153 of a carriage 154 that is mounted, particularly as illustrated in Figs. 21 and 22 on parallel bars 155 and 156 whereby the chutes may be moved in front of the carriage 171.

The base 159 of the color wheel or turntable is mounted on the shaft or pin 35, as shown in Figure 1 with a screw 160 that is threaded into the upper end of the shaft and, as shown in Fig. 7, the washer 161 is provided between the head of the screw and the base 159.

The ticket holding chutes 36 include inner walls or plates 162, channel-shaped side bars 163, as shown in Figure 7, and 164, and L-shaped bars 165 and 166 carried by the slide frame receive outer corners of tickets positioned in the chutes. The angle or L-shaped bars 165 and 166 extend horizontally from the lower ends of the chute.

One of the tickets 169, positioned in one of the chutes and being retained in position by a ledge at the lower end of the plate 162 is drawn from the lower end:- of the chute by the vacuum cup 25 as shown in Figure 7, and positioned in the rails 167 and 168 wherein it is in: engagement with a carrier 171 that is actuated by a lever" 172 to slide the ticket into printing position below the: platen 18 on the bar 19 which is carried by the posts; 20 and 21.

The vacuum cup 25 is slidably mounted by the stem 26 in a vertically disposed hub 173, as shown in Figure 7,. and a vacuum connection 174 which is attached by a: nipple 175 to the lower end of the stem 26, extends through a slot 176 in the hub 173 whereby the vacuum connection is in communication with a passage 177 extended through the stem 26 and also through a screw 178 by which the vacuum cup 25 is secured to the upper end of the stem 26.

The connection 174 extends through a plug 179 in the upper end of a bellows 180 which is suspended from a plate 181 and the bellows which is compressed by a spring 182 is extended by an arm 183 ixedly mounted on ends of a shaft 184 and which is provided with a yoke 185, arms of which are connected to a cup 186 in the lower end of the bellows by pins 187. The cup 186 is provided with a flange 188 upon which the lower end of the bellows is positioned. The spring 182 extends upwardly into the cup 186 and the lower end is positioned in a cap 189 that is positioned in an opening 190 in the base 37, as shown in Figure 7.

The shaft 184 is rotatably mounted in bearings of a bearing stand 191, as shown in Figure 2, and a plate 192 and the shaft is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, to extend the bellows by a bellows cam 193 mounted on the shaft 194 and retained in position by a pin 195. The cam is positioned to engage a roller 196 rotatably mounted by a pin 197 in the end of an arm 198 which is mounted on the shaft 184.

The cam 27 is also mounted on the shaft 194, as shown in Figure 2, the cam being secured in position upon the shaft with a pin 199 which extends through a hub 200, as shown in Fig. 19, and the cam 27 is provided with a notch 201 into which a roller 202 rotatably mounted by a pin 203 in the lower end of the stem 26 extends whereby the vacuum cup is retained in a fixed position. Upon rotation of the shaft 194 in a clockwise direction the vacuum cup is moved downwardly by gravity, drawing one of the tickets 169 in front of the carriage 171.

The cam 27 s also provided with a roller 204 as shown in Figure 19 that is rotatably mounted on a pin 205 extended from one side of the cam and, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the roller 204 is positioned in an elongated slot scnar 206 in a lever 172 that is pivotally mounted by a pin 208 in the bearing stand 191. The slot 206 is provided with an intermediate arcuate section 209 making it possible for the roller 204 to pass over the center of the shaft 194. The lever 172 is mounted to travel from the full line positioned in Fig. 7 to the position indicated by the dotted lines 207.

The ticket carrier 171 is provided with spaced vertically disposed slots 210, as shown in Figure 7, and a pin 211 extended from the upper end of the lever 172 extends into one of the slots. The slots 210 are arranged and provided so that the carrier may be moved for tickets with less than four sections.

Upon rotation of the cam 27 the roller 204, as shown in Figure 19, moves the lever 172 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7 to that shown in dotted lines wherein the ticket carrier 171 slides a ticket to a printing position below the platen 18 on the bar 19 of the printing unit 212. A slide bar 218 is carried by the bar 19. Arms 214 which are pivotally mounted on a shaft 21S and which have knobs 216 on the lower ends thereof, are actuated to operate slide plate 1S to move the ticket one step at a time. The knob 216 is positioned in a slot 217 of a sliding plate 218 and, as shown in Fig. 7 the shaft 215 is actuated by a print feed cam 219 which engages a roller 220 rotatably mounted by a pin 221 in the end of an arm 222, shown in Figure 6. The arm 222 is mounted on a pin 223 and connected to a lever 224 also mounted on the pin 223 by a rod 225, the lower end of which is connected to the lever 224 by a pin 226 and the upper end of which is connected to an arm 227 extended from the shaft 215 by a pin 228. The cam 219 is secured in position upon the shaft 24 with a pin 229 that extends through a hub 230 of the cam and with the parts assembled as illustrated and described the cam is adjusted whereby the knob 216 moves a ticket one step after code indicia and price figures are printed thereon.

The shaft 194, upon which the bellows actuating cam 193 is positioned is coupled to a gear 231 by a clutch 232, as shown in Figure 2, as shown in Fig. as a solenoid 233 is energized, the solenoid drawing one end of a lever 234 downwardly whereby the opposite end 235 of the lever is moved upwardly releasing a projection 236 from a notch 237 in a collar 238, a hub 239 of which is secured to the shaft 194 with a pin 240. The lever 234 is connected to the solenoid with a link 241 the upper end of which is connected to the lever 234 with a pin 242 and the lower end to a core 243 of the solenoid with a pin 244, as shown in Figure 7. rhe lever 234 is pvotally mounted in a hanger 245 with a pin 246 and the opposite end 235 of the lever is pivotally connected to a disc 249 by a pin 247. The lever 234 is urged downwardly with the projection 236 riding on the collar 232 by a spring 248, one end of which is connected to the disc, which is indicated by the numeral 249 by a pin 250 and the opposite end of which is connected to the end of the lever 234 by a pin 251. The disc 249 is provided with a notch 257 that is positioned to receive a spring finger 253 to prevent the disc rotating in a clockwise direction.

The gear 231, as shown in Figure 4, is positioned in meshing relation with a pinion 254 on the shaft 29, which is driven by the motor through the belt 30 and the pinion 254 also drives a gear 255 through an idler pinion 256 mounted on a shaft 257.

The gear 255 is connected to the shaft 24 by a clutch, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the clutch of the gear 255 including a collar 258 having a notch 259 therein, the notch being positioned to receive a projection 260 of a lever 261, one end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 262 to a disc 263 and the opposite end being connected by a pin 264 to a vertically disposed supporting link 265 and also to a horizontally disposed link 266. The clutch lever 261 is urged toward the shaft 24 upon which the gear 255 is mounted. as shown in Figure 3, with a spring 267, one end of which is connected to the disc '263 with a pin 268 and the opposite end to the lever 8 261 with a pin 269. The disc 263 is also provided with a notch 270 which is positioned to receive a spring finger 271 which prevents rotation of the disc in a clockwise direction.

A link 266 is connected by a pin 272 to a bearing 273 of a solenoid 274, as shown in Figure 7, and as the solenoid is energized by moving a button 303 on an arm 304 the clutch lever is actuated to release the collar 258 and shaft 24.

By operating the clutch lever 261, as shown in Figure 3 wherein the tube 60 moves out of the notch 259 the shaft 24 is free to rotate to actuate the printing platen and by energizing the solenoid 233 the tube 236 is moved from the notch 237 whereby the shaft 194 is free to rotate to actuate the vacuum cup and bellows for providing a vacuum therein. With each revolution of the gear 255 one section of a ticket is printed and after all of the sections have been printed and with each revolution of the gear 231 a new ticket is carried to the printing position by the carriage 171.

One end of the shaft 194, upon which the gear 231 is positioned is provided with a pin 278 having a disc 279 thereon and the disc is provided with a notch 280 that is positioned to receive a roller 281 on a spring arm 282 with each revolution of the disc. The disc 279 actuates a counter 283 through a rod 284, one end of which is connected by a pin 285 to the disc 279 through a clevis 236 and a clevis 287 on the opposite end is connected by a pin 288 to an arm 289 mounted on a shaft 290 extended from the counter. With the pin 285 eccentrically positioned on the disc 279 the counter is actuated with each revolution of the gear 231 and shaft 194 upon which the gear is positioned.

The pawl 47 is adjusted longitudinally of the rings 10 by a lever 291 having a button 292 on the upper end and pivotally mounted by a pin 293 in a bracket 294, as shown in Figure 9, the upper part of which is provided with spaced notches 295 that are positioned to receive a spring actuated pin 296 whereby the pawl may be extended or retracted the distance of one of the notches 46. A rod 297 connected to the lever 291 with a clevis 298 and a pin 299 is threaded into the base 84 upon which the pawl is carried, as shown at the point 300. The pawl is actuated by rotation of the square shaft which turns the cam 91 causing the pawl to move upwardly and over, to the right or left. The part 71 that is positioned to snap into the notches between the teeth 72 is provided with a pin 301 that is positioned to travel vertically in a slot 302 in the plate 78 which is secured to the plates 50 and 51 by the screws 79.

The machine is also provided with a tag type control button 303 on a lever 304 as shown in Figure i6, which is pivotally mounted by a pin 305 in a bearing 306 on the base 37 and the lever 304 is connected by a rod 307 to an arm 308 on a shaft 309 on which an arm 310 is mounted. The rod 307 is provided with a clevis 311 that is connected to the lever 304 with a pin 312 and the opposite end is provided with a clevis 313 that is connected to the arm 308 with a pin 314 and mounted on the pin is a pawl 308. The arm 310 is provided with a ratchet pawl 315 having a counter weight 316 extended from the opposite end, the pawl being pivotally mounted by a pin 317 on the lower end of the arm 310 and also pivotally connected by the pin 317 to a link 318, the opposite end of which is eccentrically connected by a pin 319 to a disc 320 on a pin 321 extended from the cam portion 22 of the shaft 24.

The pawl 315 is positioned to engage the teeth 320 of a ratchet wheel 322, as shown in Figure 16, and the ratchet wheel is connected to a disc 323 having spaced notches V324 therein, the notches being positioned to receive a projection 325 on the lower end of a spring 326 of a micro-switch 327. By this means the link 318 reciprocates with the shaft 24 advancing the ratchet wheel and the projection 325 drops into one of the notches 324 at regu 9. lar spaced intervals for breaking the circuit of the tag type mechanism. The arms 308 and 310 are free on the shaft 309. The arm 308 carries a pawl 308 which is mounted on the pin 314 so that the notched disc may be operated from the button 303 and disc 320.

The eccentric pins or cams 22 and 23 are rotatably mounted in bearings 329 and 330 in yokes 331 and 332 and the posts 20 and 21 are provided with threaded studs 333 and 334 that are threaded into sockets 35 and 336 in upper ends of the yokes. The posts 20 and 21 are slidably mounted in bearings 337 and 338 in brackets 39 and 340, respectively, in the lower part of the frame, as shown in Figure 3, and also in bearings 341 and 342 in the upper part of the frame.

The horizontally disposed bar 19 is mounted on heads 343 and 344 of the posts, the ends of the bar being secured by set screws 345 and 346 that extend into slots 347 in the heads and also by thumb screws 348 and 349 that are threaded in the upper ends of the posts.

The machine is also provided with an inking ribbon 350 that extends across the rings below the bar 19. The ribbon, which is mounted on a pair of spools 351 in an offset section 352 of the housing, with one spool below the other, extends across and over rollers 353 and over and below the code rings 10 whereby the ribbon may readily be wound from one spool to the other by knobs 354. The knobs are mounted on outer ends of shafts 355.

In the design illustrated in Figs. 2l and 22 ticket carrying chutes 153 are mounted on a carriage 360 and the carriage is slidably mounted on rods 155 and 156 with the rod 155 provided with notches 361 into which a latch 362 is snapped by a spring 363. The latch is provided with a handle 364 by which the opposite end may be elevated to facilitate moving the carriage on the rails or rods.

The carriage 360 is provided with supporting bars 365 and 366. The ticket carrying device, as illustrated in Figures 2l and 22 is a modification of the ticket carrying device 34 and is positioned on the machine so that the tickets may be deposited in front of the carriage 171.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described tickets positioned in the chutes of the turn table or carriage of a vacuum cup and deposited in front of the carrier 171, the carrier is actuated by the lever 172 to carry the tickets to a printing position below the platen 18 and with the tickets in this position the shaft 24 is rotated whereby the platen moves downwardly impressing the tickets upon type of the code rings and price wheels whereby the tickets are printed.

The code wheels are readily set by the pawl 47, as shown in Figure 9, actuated by the buttons 14 and the machine is started with a starting button 376 and the parts actuated by a printmg button 377.

The starter button 376, as shown in Figure 1, is positioned on the end of a lever 385 that is pivotally mounted on a bearing 386 that is secured to the base 37 with screws 387 and the starter button is connected by a suitable circuit to a switch in the motor circuit.

The printing button 377, as shown in Figure 1, is carried on the end of a lever 388 that is pivotally mounted by a pin 389 on a bearing 390 and the bearing is secured to the base 37 with screws 391. The lever 388 is positioned to open and close a switch 392 for closing a circuit to a solenoid 274 for operating the clutch lever 261 to permit rotation of the shaft 24 which operates the platen through the cams or eccentrically positioned pins 22 and 23, as shown in Fig. 3.

The motor 28 is carried by swinging brackets 393 and 394 which are pivotally mounted by pins 395 and 396 in bearings 397 at one end and in a partition 398 at the opposite end, whereby with the motor swinging on the belt 30, as shown in Figure 9, tension is maintained in the belt providing take-up means.

The cover plate ll of the housing of the machine is provided with a circular upwardly extended band 399, as

and, as illustrated in Fig. l, the cover plate 11 is provided` with a window 400 having a transparent plastic cover plate 401 through which code indicia on the rings may be observed, see Figure 17a, a window 404 having a similar transparent cover plate through which numerals indicating dollars and cents may be observed, openings for knurled reset knobs 403 for a counter 283, and a window 402 through which indicia on the counter 283 indicating the number of tickets printed may be observed. The rings 10 have the same code indicia on each half.

The machine of the present invention is adapted to be used for printing price and code letters and numbers on tickets and these tickets can be attached to and used on articles of clothing or the like. Tickets of different colors may be selected and each ticket may be made up of one, two, three, four or more sections and the machine is electrically operated by means of knobs and keys as previously stated. The price printing number wheels are operated by keys to select the number to be printed. The wheels have a vacant space thereon so that when desired, no number will be printed. The code letter and number rings are provided as previously described, and these rings are operated by knob and key to select the number or letter to be printed. In addition there is provided the hand operated means whereby the color ticket to be printed may be selected. The vacuum means is key operated for depositing one ticket in front of a pushing'carriage where the ticket is advanced under the printing bar. The key operated means for lowering and raising the printing bar to print each section of the ticket in succession is also provided.

The'operation of the machine of the present invention is as follows. The price wheels are operated by the keys 14 to select the price number desired to be printed on the tickets. Or, a vacant space may be selected so as not to print. The rings 10 are moved to select code numbers or letters to be printed on each section of a ticket by operating the knob 56 and a key 292.

Referring to Figure 33, it will be seen that the button 376 is adapted to be operated to close a circuit to the motor and solenoid 233. The shaft 278 is in motion to turn the disc 279. The dog 280 is raised out of the notch in the disc 279 and the button 376 is moved back to open position and the solenoid 233 operates the shaft 194 through the clutch 232. This operates the vacuum by means of the cam 193 in order to deposit a ticket in front of the carriage 171. The carriage 171 is moved forward by the cam 27 on the shaft 199 in order to move the ticket under the printing bar 19. The carriage is then moved back. This is done by one revolution of the shaft 194 when the dog 280 will enter the notch in the disc 279 to break the circuit to the solenoid 233 and motor 28. The shaft 278 also operates a counter 283, Figure 9. The first section of the ticket is now in position over a carbon ribbon 350 and the price wheels 12 and code rings 10.

The button 308 is now moved to bring the dog 325 out of the notch 324 in the disc 323. The button 377 is moved to close the circuit to the motor 28 and solenoid 274 which operates the clutch on the printing bar shaft 24. The shaft 24 has cams 329 and 330 to lower and raise the printing bar 19 to print the first section of the ticket. The shaft 321 has turned the disc one revolution which has moved the disc so that the projection 325 will enter a notch 324 to break the circuit.

The shaft 24 also carries a cam 219, Figure 6, which operates a slide 218, Figure 24, which operates when the printing bar 19 starts to move up. The slide moves the ticket to the next section to be printed and the `button 303 is again operated to print this section of the ticket. The ticket being printed moves the tickets already printed until they are discharged from the chute 375.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a tag printing machine, the combination which comprises a housing, a plurality of concentric code printing rings mounted to slide in the upper part of the housing, said rings having printing indicia on upper surfaces thereof and spaced notches in lower surfaces, a pawl positioned to engage notches in the lower surfaces of the rings, means for shifting the position of the pawl to a selected ring, means for adjusting the position of the pawl for advancing and returning the rings, mechanical means for actuating the pawl, a plurality of price printing wheels rotatably mounted in the housing, means for manually adjusting the positions of the price printing wheels, spaced vertically disposed posts mounted for vertical travel in the housing, a bar extended between upper ends of the posts, the posts being positioned whereby a platen carried by the bar is actuated to urge a ticket against type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels, a shaft positioned below and aligned with the post cams mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with lower ends of the posts for actuating the platen through the posts, a manually actuated clutch for holding the cams stationary, a plurality of color storage chutes mounted on the housing, means for feeding tickets from the chutes to a printing position between the platen and code rings and price printing wheels, means for positioning the chutes to register with the ticket feeding means and means for ejecting the printed tickets positioned between the platen and code printing,rings and price printing wheels.

2. In a tag printing machine, the combination which comprises a housing, a plurality of concentric code printing rings mounted to slide in the upper part of the housing, said rings having printing indicia on upper surfaces thereof and spaced notches in lower surfaces, a pawl positioned to engage notches in the lower surfaces of the rings, means for shifting the position of the pawl to a selected ring, moans for adjusting the position of the pawl for advancing and returning the rings, mechanical means for actuating the pawl, a plurality of price printing wheels rotatably mounted in the housing, means for manually adjusting the positions of the price printing wheels, spaced vertically disposed posts mounted for vertical travel in the housing, a bar extended between upper ends of the posts, the posts being positioned whereby a platen carried by the bar is actuated to urge a ticket against type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels, cams operatively engaged with lower ends of the posts for actuating the platen through the posts, a clutch for holding the cams stationary, a plurality of ticket storage chutes mounted on the housing, a vacuum cup positioned to withdraw a ticket from one of the chutes, means for positioning the chutes to register with the ticket feeding means, means for supplying vacuum to the vacuum cup, means for raising and lowering the vacuum cup, means for feeding a ticket from the vacuum cup to a printing position between the code printing rings and price wheels, and means for actuating the platen for urging the tickets against type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels.

3. In a tag printing machine, the combination which comprises a housing, a plurality of concentric code printing rings mounted to slide in the upper part of the housing, said rings having printing indicia on upper surfaces thereof and spaced notched in lower surfaces, a pawl positioned to engage notches in the lower surfaces of the rings, means for shifting the position of the pawl to a selected ring, means for adjusting the position of the pawl for advancing and returning the rings, mechanical means for actuating the pawl, a plurality of price printing wheels rotatably mounted in the housing, means for manually adjusting the positions of the price printing wheels, spaced vertically disposed posts mounted for vertical travel in the housing, a bar extended between upper ends of the posts, the posts being positioned whereby a platen carried by the bar is actuated to urge a ticket against type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels, a shaft, cam on the shaft operatively engaged with lower ends of the posts for actuating the platen through the posts, a clutch for holding the cams stationary, a plurality of ticket storage chutes mounted on the housing, a vacuum cup positioned to withdraw a ticket from one of the chutes, a bellows, means for connecting the bellows to the vacuum cup, means for actuating the bellows to create vacuum in the vacuum cup, means for raising and lowering the vacuum cup, and means for feeding a ticket from the vacuum cup to a printing position between the code printing rings and price wheels.

4. In a tag printing machine, the combination which comprises a housing, a plurality of concentric code printing rings mounted to slide in the upper part of the housing, said rings having printing indicia on upper surfaces thereof and spaced notches in lower surfaces, a pawl positioned to engage notches in the lower surfaces of the rings, means for shifting the position of the pawl to a selected ring, means for adjusting the position of the pawl for advancing and returning the rings, mechanical means for actuating the pawl, a plurality of price printing wheels rotatably mounted in the housing, means for manually adjusting the positions of the price printing wheels, spaced vertically disposed posts mounted for vertical travel in the housing, a bar extended between upper ends of the posts, the posts being positioned whereby a platen carried by the bar is actuated to urge a ticket against type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels, a shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with lower ends of the posts for actuating the platen through the posts, means for holding the cams stationary, manual means for releasing the cam actuating means, a plurality of ticket storage chutes mounted on the housing, a vacuum cup positioned to withdraw a ticket from one of the chutes, means for positioning the chutes whereby one of the chutes is in registering relation with the vacuum cup, a bellows, means for connecting the bellows to the vacuum cup, means for actuating the bellows to create vacuum in the vacuum cup, means for raising and lowering the vacuum cup, means for feeding a ticket from the vacuum cup to a printing position between the code printing rings and price wheels, an inking ribbon, and means for feeding the inking ribbon between the ticket and type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels.

5. In a tag printing machine, the combination which comprises a housing, a plurality of concentric code printing rings mounted to slide in the upper part of the housing, said rings haivng printing indicia on upper surfaces thereof and spaced notches in lower surfaces, a pawl mounted in the housing and positioned to engage notches in the lower surfaces of the rings, means for shifting the position of the pawl to a selected ring, means for adjusting the position of the pawl for advancing and returning the rings, mechanical means for actuating the pawl, a plurality of price printing wheels rotatably mounted in the housing, means for manually adjusting the positions of the price printing wheels, spaced vertically disposed posts mounted for vertical travel in the housing, a bar extended between upper ends of the posts, the posts being positioned whereby a platen carried by the bar is actuated to urge a ticket against type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels, a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing cams mounted on the shaft and operatively connected to lower ends of the posts for actuating the platen through the posts, means for holding the cams stationary, manual means for releasing the cam actuating means, a plurality of ticket storage chutes mounted on the housing, a vacuum cup positioned to withdraw a ticket from one of the chutes, a bellows, means for connecting the bellows to the vacuum cup, means for actuating the bellows to create vacuum in the vacuum cup, means for raising and lowering the vacuum 13 cup, means for feeding a ticket from the vacuum cup to a printing position between the code printing rings and price wheels, means for actuating the platen for urging the tickets against type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels, an inking ribbon, means for feeding 5 the inking ribbon between the ticket and type of the code printing rings and price printing wheels, and means for ejecting a ticket printed by the code printing rings and price printing wheels.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wood Mar. 12, 1895 Smith May 25, 1909 Skerl Nov. 14, 1922 Wheeler Oct. 15, 1929 Rast June 30, 1936 Berger Sept. 21, 1937 Sloan Apr. 22, 1941 Worth Feb. 10, 1953 Adshead Nov. 17, 1953 Katz Sept. 21. 1954 Bowers Sept. 28, 1954 

